From taking a bus down to Durban to watch the Telkom Netball League a couple of years ago to being courtside enforcing the rules of the game in the tournament, Mninawa Ndaku is living his dream.
Ndaku is one of 19 match officials overseeing the matches in the competition which kicked off on 24 April at the Durban University of Technology, Durban. Power Week One will run until 2 May with Power Week Two set for 22 to 31 May at the Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg.
His journey with netball began while he was still in high school. His skills on the court were impressive enough for the Eastern Cape selectors to pick him for the province’s team for the SA Schools Netball Boys Netball competition that was held in Rustenburg. He gave himself room to grow by learning how to coach and umpire as well. Ndaku says although he had reached his ceiling as a player, he wanted to stay and contribute positively to the sport.
“I began coaching when I started university in my first year. It was a part time coaching opportunity and eventually became the head coach of the institution, coaching at University Sports South Africa level and umpiring at the same time. When I made the decision that I was done with coaching, I still wanted to give back to the sport and umpiring was one of the opportunities that I could still get involved and still work and contribute to the sport. I absolutely love it. It keeps me challenged, it keeps me involved in the sport and I love every opportunity I get,” says Ndaku.
Although he has been umpiring for a number of years, he feels there aren’t enough opportunities for umpires to grow.
“Just like any other sporting code, one of the challenges we face is (lack of) exposure to the highest level of play. I think the Telkom Netball League plays a vital role for us to get the exposure we greatly need so that we are able to grow, be consistent and we’re able to contribute to the benefit of the sport. Opportunities are the biggest thing, international opportunities are a big thing for umpires especially once you reach the level of Netball South Africa A which is the highest qualification in South Africa, where you are starting to knock on the door of international exposure. I think that is where we can start tapping into getting more opportunities,” he says.
The pinnacle of any sport is being able to compete or participate at international level. The former Tshwane University of Technology coach currently holds the Netball South Africa A Grade qualification and will require the International Netball Umpire Award to officiate in an international competition. Ndaku is yet to reach this stage however, he dreams of officiating an international tournament in his career.
“Every umpire aspires to be the best they can be and for me it’s to be the best that I can be. I would love to set foot at the Commonwealth Games or at the Netball World Cup. It is a dream that I look forward to, being part of that level of umpiring,” he says.
Ndaku says he resonates with this season’s TNL slogan #TelkomStandTall: From First Pass to Crown. He says being an umpire requires one to be firm and reliable as well.
“It’s a slogan that reflects resilience, it is a slogan that reflect tenacity. You are always going to be challenged, whether you are standing next to the court as an umpire making a decision or a particular call or just being able to grow from one match to another. It’s important that you #StandTall. I see the umpires in the Telkom Netball League as ambassadors and there are a lot of people that look up to these umpires. No matter how difficult or challenging it may be, it is important for us to #StandTall: From the first pass to the crown. That crown for me being consistent, being reliable and contributing strongly,” he concludes.
